karen's country calendar

 It seems my last post was exactly a year ago with the same almost identical visit to Ouse Fen where I was hoping to see the Great Reed Warbler which was revisiting the site it favoured amongst the reeds last year. There was much bird song to be heard today with sedge warblers singing their hearts out and every so often rising into their display flight, Reed buntings were much in evidence along with a whitethroat, reed warblers, great crested and little grebes and families of greylag goose and coots.  I also saw a couple of cranes in the distance.  However the great reed warbler obviously didnt want to be photographed as it remained with its back towards us at the back of a dense area of reeds although it was announcing its location very vocally, sedge warbler                                                      ...

 A sunny morning, free day and reports of a Great Reed Warbler seen at Ouse Fen found me visiting the reserve this morning. The carpark was busy which was a good indication that this rare visitor was still there and I soon got into conservation with a gentleman who was also about to walk down to where it had been seen.  It wasnt long before we saw a group of birders ahead of us on a viewing mound which had been trampled down and a kind person offered me a view through his telescope as as we arrived where it was in full song.  I was soon able to locate  in my binoculars and camera and noticed its  striking red throat when singing.   Once I was satisfied with photos I headed off round the reserve where reed buntings, sedge and reed warblers and whitethroats were very visible and I also saw my first painted lady butterfly of the season.  Great Reed Warbler Can you see me? Reed Bunting Whitethroat Sedge Warbler

 When my sister visits it always provides an opportunity to go birding a bit further afield and this time we decided to visit the North Norfolk coast and Lynford Arboretum in the hope of seeing a few new birds for this year. Leaving early (6.30am) we reached Titchwell just before the visitor centre opened so made our way straight onto the reserve and the walk down towards the shore.  I was pleased to see a curlew,  scoters (black specks on the sea which we were reliably informed were scoters by someone with a 'scope.  black tailed godwits, a flock of brent geese which few in, ruff and bearded tits. Along the coast we stopped off at Holkham Gap where we had heard there were some shorelarks still present which we eventually found in the roped off area after a tip off from another birder.  We then arrived at Cley Marshes where we managed somewhat distant views of a Long Billed  Dowitcher, only visible as pointed out by a lot of other birders present in the hid...

 I have been to Therfield Heath a few times over the past years but I received an email notification that a guide led visit was scheduled for last Tuesday - at a time I was free so decided to book and see what I could learn from others.  The starting point was at the main Therfield Heath carpark, which I didnt know existed as I always parked at the other end of the Heath so that was a new place for me. As I waited for others to arrive, I saw a good number of meadow browns,  ringlets and large skippers amongst the grasses near where I parked my car. Soon I spotted a few others arriving so  I went over and joined the group where we were introduced to our leader, Nick who said he only lived a few hundred yards away and was a Conservateur of Therfield Heath.  He lead us round the edge of the eastern side of the Heath, an  area I hadnt explored before, we saw all the usual grass loving butterflies including a good number of Marbled white and skipper butterflies ...